On September 23, 2010, a court in New York sentenced Pakistani scientist Dr. Aafia Siddiqui to 86 years in prison.[1] Earlier this year, she was convicted of trying to kill U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan. Dr. Siddiqui is a former student at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Brandeis University.
After her sentencing, a series of protests were organized in various Pakistani towns against the U.S., demanding that the Pakistani scientist be released. Although these protests have been organized by a number of organizations, the Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan – the country's largest religious-political party – has been at the forefront of these anti-U.S. demonstrations.
Taliban Spokesman: "The U.S. has Challenged the Beliefs and Honor of the Muslim Ummah by Sentencing Aafia Siddiqui"
In an attempt to gain the support of the Pakistani people, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP or the Movement of Pakistani Taliban) also joined the chorus of the protests, describing the sentencing of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui as challenge to "the honor of Muslim Ummah." TTP spokesman Azam Tariq said, "The U.S. has challenged the beliefs and honor of the Muslim Ummah by sentencing Aafia Siddiqui."[2]
On September 24, a day after the sentencing of Dr. Siddiqui, Al-Sahab, the media arm of Al-Qaeda, released a video of the Taliban militants fighting in the Landi Kotal region of Khyber Agency, a Pakistani tribal district. The video is titled, "Aafia Siddiqui Battle – the Mujahideen's Revenge against the Pakistani Army for Handing Over to America the Ummah's Daughter Aafia Siddiqui."[3]
In the video, a masked Taliban commander urges compatriots "to obtain excellent training and expedite attacks on the Jews and Christians." Pointing toward the fighting against the Pakistani security forces in Landi Kotal, the masked commander adds: "We are dedicating this fighting to our sister Dr. Aafia Siddiqui."
He adds: "I want to convey to Dr. Aafia Siddiqui that we are your spiritual brothers; we are not sleeping; we will take revenge using whatever resources we have... If someone raises a query as to why are you taking revenge against the Pakistani security forces while she is in the U.S. jail, [then we want to say that] Pakistan handed Aafia Siddiqui over to America.
"We want to convey this message to the Pakistan Army that this act of irtidad [quitting Islam by supporting infidels] you have committed, offer repentance for it and re-convert to Islam. And if you did not offer repentance for this irtidad and kufr [act of an infidel] and if you did not re-convert to Islam, then your future, Allah willing will be the same that was for the Iraqi murtideen [who quit Islam] and America's allies in Iraq…"
Images of Protests in Pakistani Cities; Jamaat-e-Islami Leader Liaquat Hussain Baloch: "The U.S. has Challenged Our Dignity by Convicting Dr. Aafia Siddiqui"
Following are images of protests in Pakistani cities:
Pakistani protesters march towards the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad.
(Image courtesy: Dawn.com, Pakistan, September 23, 2010)
Jamaat-e-Islami leader Muhammad Hussain Mehnati leads a protest against the U.S. in Karachi. Liaquat Hussain Baloch, another Jamaat-e-Islami leader, told the rally: "The U.S. has challenged our dignity by convicting Dr. Aafia Siddiqui."
(Image courtesy: Roznama Jang, Pakistan, September 26, 2010)
Jamaat-e-Islami leader Syed Munawwar Hasan addresses a protest rally in Lahore. The rally was organized to demand the release of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui and to express support for anti-Indian protesters in Kashmir.
(Image courtesy: Roznama Express, Pakistan, September 27, 2010)
Islami Tehreek-e-Tulaba (left) and Khaksar Tehreek (right) organize protests in Lahore in support of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui. The left banner reads: "Daughter of the East Dr. Aafia Siddiqui awaits Muhammad bin Qasim [i.e. the Islamic conqueror of India in 711 AD]."
(Image courtesy: Roznama Express, Pakistan, September 27, 2010)
A protest rally organized in support of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui by Pasban, a pressure group.
(Image courtesy: Jasarat.com, Pakistan, September 23, 2010)
In Karachi, police try to disperse the anti-U.S. protesters.
(Image courtesy: Roznama Jang, Pakistan, September 25, 2010)
People in Peshawar protest against the U.S. The protest was organized by "Pasban" – a pressure group.
(Image courtesy: Jasarat.com, Pakistan, September 24, 2010)
Jamaat-e-Islami leader Muhammad Hussain Mehnati leads a protest in front of the U.S. Consulate in Karachi. The protest was organized by the Human Rights Network.
(Image courtesy: Jasarat.com, Pakistan, September 23, 2010)
A protest outside the U.S. Consulate in Karachi
(Image courtesy: Jasarat.com, Pakistan, September 23, 2010)
Protest against the U.S. in Karachi.
(Image courtesy: Roznama Express, Pakistan, September 23, 2010)
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A protest rally, organized by the Pasban, is blocked by the police in Karachi.
(Image courtesy: Roznama Jang, Pakistan, September 24, 2010)
Former Jamaat-e-Islami chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed addresses female protesters in Karachi.
(Image courtesy: Roznama Jang, Pakistan, September 25, 2010)
Women activists of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan protest against the United States in Karachi. One of the banners reads: "The decision against Dr. Aafia is America's attack on Islam and Muslims." Many members of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) party also took part in the protests.
(Image courtesy: Roznama Express, Pakistan, September 23, 2010)
Dr. Aafia Siddiqui's sister Dr. Fauzia Siddiqui meets with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Interior Minister Rehman Malik in Islamabad.
(Image courtesy: Roznama Jang, Pakistan, September 23, 2010)
People in Islamabad protest against the United States after a court in New York sentenced Pakistani scientist Dr. Aafia Siddiqui to 86 years in prison. Dr. Siddiqui was convicted of trying to kill U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan. The protest was organized by Defense of Human Rights, an Islamist pressure group.
(Image courtesy: Jasarat.com, Pakistan, September 24, 2010)
In Karachi, protesters march towards the U.S. consulate.
(Image courtesy: Jasarat.com, Pakistan, September 24, 2010)
In the town of Hyderabad, clerics and students belonging to Jamiat Tulaba-e-Islam protest against the U.S., asking for the release of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui.
(Image courtesy: Jasarat.com, Pakistan, September 24, 2010)
